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Have now finished this. It's taken all but 2 days short of two months for me to get there which is astonishing considering that I have read 350 pages overnight (this is 327 pages). Six weeks worth of eye-sight problems, as pointed out, didn't help but there were whole weeks before that where I just wasn't moved to pick up this book. I'm still not sure why because I actually liked the book.

The prose was well written and the characters well drawn and I was thoroughly involved by the end of the book just not before then.

I'm glad that I persisted and finished reading but must confess that I didn't find the book as charming or moving as everyone else seems to.

Thanks for the recommendation though as it's something I'd never heard of before so wouldn't have had the experience otherwise.

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Have finished Crossing to Safety - wow, what a book. As I said earlier I found myself disliking Charity for her controlling ways but I think it's her character and everyone's reaction to it that drives the story. I did find the back and forth in time a bit disconcerting but mostly it all tied together nicely although not necessarily the way I would want it to go. Won't say too much more as those who are still in the process of reading the book will want to experience the book for themselves. I have other comments about it, mostly I loved his writing although floundered a bit with the Italian scene - that for another time.

I read Crossing to Safety years ago and when I was done I sat and thought about my father. We'd gone thirty years without talking. I sat down and wrote him a long letter, which I had to rewrite a dozen times, but the critical part was, "Dad, your job was to give me the tools to live and apparently you did. But, when you gave me the tools you gave me a set of blueprints and demanded that I live your plan. That doesn't work."

My father phoned me. He was crying. He was afraid I hated him but he agree with what I'd said. For me, this book was very important.

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Finished this about two weeks ago but for one reason or another simply hadn't got around to posting on it. I enjoyed it inasmuch as I do tend to enjoy stories where the reader is able to follow a set of characters over an extended period of time, their trials, tribulations, happiness, sorrow etc. and in that respect this book did it for me.

I found Stegner's style of writing in this book very descriptive, especially, it seemed, when conveying an atmosphere of the physical surroundings and landscapes in which the story was set. This was my first experience of Stegner and I hope it will not be the last; I believe Angle Of Repose is thought to be well worth reading.

For all that I tried to like Charity, for it was she who essentially dominated the four central characters, I ultimately struggled to do so. While there is no doubting that she had a lot of love and kindness in her, and was always the "get-up-and-go" type, it was always on her terms and she had to be in control of every situation. Together with Sid, they were the life and soul and centre of just about every life they touched, although it was Sid's money rather than Charity's that enabled them to be so, but I felt that Sid was a prisoner to his wife's ambitions.

The other couple, Larry and Sally, whilst I would not go quite as far as to call them insipid, I did feel as though they were a more ordinary, and grounded, couple who were simply happy to be caught in Charity and Sid's orbit and to be swept along wherever it took them. When the story was in the present, and Larry and Sally had returned to the compound basically for the occasion of Charity's death, I found myself wondering, given the strength of the relationships in those earlier years, why it seemed that many years had passed without the four of them having had much to do with each other.

I also concluded that I thought Charity's final actions were cruel, even if she thought otherwise. I could not decide whether she was rejecting Sid or simply having to be in control to the end. Whatever her reasons, personally I thought them unkind, and I was partially expecting Sid to be found hanging from a tree or lying with a bullet-hole in his head when Larry went looking for him at the end.

I did enjoy the book, and I am glad I followed recommendations to read it. Now I'm going to look at previous posts to see if anything I felt about the book corresponds with other members' views.

I have just read Grasshopper's spoiler from her June 2014 post, and I agree whole-heartedly. I put myself in that position and know exactly how I would feel if that was CP doing it to me.

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Wallec Stegner tells the story of four friends, Larry and Sally Morgan and Sid and Charity Lang, who meet as new faculty members at Madison, Wisconsin. Sid and Charity are rich, while Larry and Sally are poor, but this disparity is soon forgotten as the Langs throw a party for all new members, at which performances are obligatory. The Langs proceed to adopt their poor relations, finding them intellectually stimulating and congenial. After a year, however, Larry is terminated despite his having published articles and a book, while, owing to the financial squeeze of the Depression, Sid is retained for just one more year. Early on it is established that Charity Lang is the leader of social and cultural events, insisting on the Morgans occupying their house over the summer vacation. Charity has plans, for everyone including the Morgans their ‘adoptive’ family and their new-born daughter, Lang Morgan.

Mostly the tone is reminiscential, as Larry recalls the glorious summer in Arcady before he became an editor for Uncle Richard in Albuquerque, a post in which he more than doubled his university salary. He has even managed to repay the Langs after several years, during which time both women have physically deteriorated - Charity, now a mulltiple mum, being stricken with cancer, Sally crippled with polio. But the parties continue, now with swarms of kids attached, as does Charity’s determination to divert her husband’s efforts from writing poetry into recognised scholarship.

I was thankful to find no happy ending, no tacked on or hopeful last episode - except for the symbolic survival of a presumed drowned mouse. As Larry says, ‘You can’t be close to the mortality of friends without being brought to think of your own.’ I felt that I had understood Larry and rooted for him in his battles with the redoubtable Charity, a finely drawn character whom I’d go a mile to avoid.

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I started this book a couple of days ago and am about two thirds of the way through. I simply cannot put it down. Wallace Stegner at his very best.

The main character and story teller is Joe Allston. He and his wife have retired to a remote area of California after the death of their son to escape. After a couple of years of living reasonably peacefully Jim Peck, described on the back of the book as a bearded cultist, and the Catlin family arrive. Marian, wife and mother of the Catlin family, is both pregnant and recovering from breast cancer. Allston is drawn to Marion but irritated by Jim. All three characters are very different and pull each other about a bit. I just love the amazing understanding of human nature that Stegner seems to have and his wonderful descriptions. So far a joy to read.

Am at page 22 of this book and already have had some smiles, items I've had to look up, met up with Karen Blixen (Out of Africa author), marvellous descriptions and writing which just flows. It's now 1 a.m and I should be in bed but am having trouble just needing to read a few more pages.

Stegner writes in such a way as there is instant recognition as to how his character is feeling, it's as if you are right there with him experiencing his irritation because the postman is late, somehow you are inside his head, even to the goose bumps which accompany the bit of fresh breeze when you are not in the sun. Joe Allston is someone you know.

I started this book a few days ago having had it on my TBR shelf for some time. Having bought the book I was put off reading it by another reader who thought that it was a bit of a miserable read. I was surprised to find no existing thread for this book but unless both RG and I are both looking in the wrong place none seems to exist which is a shame as I would have liked to have known what others have thought.

Having got best part of half way through the book I would have to agree that the book is not a cheerful read! However that does not mean to say that I am not enjoying reading it. As usual with Wallace Stegner the book is beautifully written. He has a wonderful ability to paint pictures for the reader so much so that at times I feel as if I can almost place myself within the landscape that he is describing. The characters are clearly drawn and all attract strong feelings within me. However, the feelings I have for each character are constantly changing as the story unfolds and the characters develop. At times I have found myself aching for all of the main characters no matter how they have behaved.

I think that it was Binker who first drew my attention to Stegner. After I reread The Grapes of Wrath I seem to remember her saying that the writing of Wallace Stegner was far more descriptive of the early part of 20th century America. I do not know whether this is true or not or even if that was exactly what she meant. What I do know is that I am very glad that my attention was drawn to this authour. This is the third novel of his that I have attempted and my love for his writing is growing all the time.

Binker and I have just started a simultaneous read of this book by Wallace Stegner. Hoping to have an open discussion here, and hoping others will join in either with past thoughts or present reading. I will try to remember to be courteous with spoiler warnings.
The basic storyline,(although there is nothing basic about this novel) is that Lyman Ward, wheelchair bound, nearing the end of his own life, and a historian by trade, is writing the story of his grandparents lives,and their struggles ,both financial and personal, during the settling of the western US. In the process of that he is also coming to terms with the lives of his parents, his son, and himself.
So I'm really enjoying Angle of Repose. Beautiful use of language and foreshadowing. Almost post-modernist in its creative use of letters and other sources, and the self referential aspects of Lyman's narration. I don't think I saw the humor the first time I read this in the 80's. I think I was too literal minded. Been pondering the relationship of Susan and Augusta. I think I agree with Lyman that there wasn't a sexual component, and I don't think either of them were gay. But they were obviously in love with each other. My point is that I think there is a cultural misperception about what love really is and how it may relate to sexual attraction. I used the term 'in love' as opposed to just 'loved' about their relationship because of the jealousy aspect. Seems to me that real love would transcend jealous, possessive feelings.